The City Engineers Association of Minnesota held the 2025 Annual Conference, January 29-31, 2025, at the DoubleTree Hilton. The conference offered a terrific opportunity for you to stay informed on current topics of interest and to maintain continuing education.
Download the list of conference sessions 2025 CEAM Annual Conference schedule (pdf).
If available, presentations from the CEAM 2025 Annual Conference are posted below.
1. Profiting From A Complaint Free Workplace
Will Bowen, A Complaint Free World
Session summary: People complain for only one of five reasons remembered by the acronym G.R.I.P.E. -- Get attention, Remove Responsibility, Inspire envy, gain Power, and to Excuse their poor performance. Understanding the real motivation behind any complaint and how to address each type of complaint will dramatically improve employee retention, workplace culture, customer relationships, sales, and profitability.
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2. MNDOT Safe Systems Approach
Brian Sorenson, State Traffic Engineer, MnDOT; Kenneth Johnson, Assistant State Traffic Engineer, MnDOT
Session summary: The Safe System Approach is a holistic approach to transportation system safety that is based on the recognition that people will make mistakes, but the consequences of those mistakes can be mitigated through the design of the systems in which they operate. MnDOT is developing an action plan for more effectively integrating the Safe System Approach that will identify policies, tools, strategies, actions, and performance measures for including safe system concepts into programming and project delivery processes. The presentation will highlight action plan elements and discuss how MnDOT and local agencies can work together in the coming years to reduce the risk of life changing crashes on Minnesota roads.
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3. Profiting From a Complaint Free Workplace: Deep Dive
Will Bowen, A Complaint Free World
Session summary: A deeper discussion on the lessons learned from Keynote, Will Bowen.
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4. Easement Acquisition 101
Tina McLaughlin, Right of Way Specialist, SEH; Peter Mikhail, Attorney, Kennedy & Graven, Chartered
Session summary: Do you have a project on the horizon that may require some easement acquisition or are you interested in learning more about easements and the process for acquiring them? If so, this is the session for you! This session will give an overview of the process from the early concept stages of researching existing easements, determining easement widths and types of easements, to developing parcel sketches, and navigating through the appraisal process, negotiations and condemnation. A panel of right-of-way acquisition experts will be on hand to explain the process, timelines, schedule and cost that you can anticipate along the way.
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5. Infrastructure Finding Strategies for Local Improvements
Cindy Voigt, City Engineer, City of Duluth; Kristin Asher, Director of Public Works, City of Richfield; Steven Sampson Brown, Director of Construction, City of Rochester; Matt Hardegger, Transportation Engineer, City of Richfield
Session summary: This session will explore the intricacies of funding infrastructure projects, with a focus on securing and managing grants. The more common funding programs, like LRIP, Capital Investment Bonds, U.S. discretionary grants, and regional solicitations for federal transportation funds. We’ll discuss how to identify and leverage smaller, less common grants that still contribute meaningfully to local projects. The session will also address the grant application process, emphasizing how effective transportation planning and early project development can streamline and prioritize applications. We’ll explore the role of lobbying and the financial costs involved in pursuing these funding opportunities. Finally, administering grants can be a complex process. How much time and effort should municipalities invest in managing these funds, and is the gain worth the administrative pain? Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to balance effort with reward, maximizing the impact of infrastructure investments.
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6. Managing the Public Right-of-Way
Brian Hansen, Development Coordinator, City of Bloomington; Phillip Elkin, Engineering Services Manager, City of St. Louis Park; Mark Hansen, City Engineer, City of Coon Rapids
Session summary: Local agencies are tasked with managing the public right-of-way and the many challenges that accompany that role. We will start with an introduction and overview of the role and responsibilities of the local agencies in permitting this work and then we will hear from a panel of city representatives who will share their perspectives and experiences on a range of right-of-way management topics. Examples of topics we plan to cover include: issuing permits to private utilities, requiring safe work-zone traffic control, restoration requirements and enforcement techniques, ROW encroachments, clear view triangle obstructions, staffing huge influxes of permit applications and work (fiber), managing the public expectations of private work in the right-of-way.
7. Traffic Safety and Speed Camera Enforcement Overview
Ethan Fawley, Vision Zero Program Coordinator, City of Minneapolis
Session summary: Recently adopted HF 5247 omnibus bill provides authority for a traffic safety camera local pilot program in Minneapolis and Mendota Heights starting August 1, 2025. The bill also directs MnDOT and the Department of Public Safety to conduct a work zone speed camera pilot program. Speakers will provide an overview of the pilot programs and how the organizations plan to implement, evaluate and provide reporting. The session will focus on camera enforcement for speeding and red light running.
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8. Engage & Evolve: Engineering with Community in Mind
Amber Jacobson, Experience and Engagement Manager, City of Burnsville; Logan Vlasaty, City Engineer, City of Burnsville
Session summary: Public engagement is a key component of civil engineering projects, as it can foster trust, collaboration, and innovation between engineers and the public. However, public engagement can also pose many challenges, such as conflicting interests, communication barriers, and ethical dilemmas. How can civil engineers design and implement effective public engagement strategies that balance the technical, social, and environmental aspects of infrastructure projects?
In this session, you will learn from two cities that demonstrate how public engagement can enhance the outcomes and impacts of civil engineering projects. The first is the City of Burnsville's philosophy of public engagement, which uses their engagement vehicle (EVA) to bring open houses into neighborhoods aiming to make participation simple and empowering to stakeholders. The second is a case study of the City of Bloomington's Nine Mile Creek Corridor project, which involves extensive public consultation and collaboration to revitalize a creek corridor and park area. The project also involves contentious public debate over the types of improvements that should be included. You will gain practical tips and tools for planning, conducting, and evaluating public engagement activities in your own projects.
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9. Navigating the Storm: Increasing Rainfall and Flood Modeling/Prediction Tools
Brandon Barnes, Vice President, Senior Water Resources Engineer, Barr Engineering Co.; Stacy Harwell, Principal, Senior Business Development Consultant, Stantec
Session summary: In an era of increasing climate variability, effective flood management is more critical than ever. This session will delve into the latest advancements in rainfall data and modeling tools that are essential for planning, preparing for, and responding to flooding events. NOAA Atlas 14 currently provides comprehensive precipitation frequency estimates for Minnesota, offering critical data for infrastructure design and floodplain management. Plans are underway for release of NOAA Atlas 15, which will represent the next generation of precipitation frequency data, incorporating the latest climate science and projections. The session will also highlight a range of modeling tools to help plan for, prepare for, and respond to extreme storm events, including an overview of Flood Predictor, an innovative machine-learning based tool to predict regional flood risk in near real time.
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10. Engineering Inclusion: How Equity Work Creates an Environment Where Everyone Can Thrive
Paul Johnson, Organizational Development and Equity Partner, City of Plymouth
Session summary: Join us for an insightful session on how unraveling the complexities of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) can unlock new opportunities for innovation and collaboration. This session aims to equip engineers with the knowledge and strategies necessary to foster an inclusive work environment that values and leverages diverse perspectives. We will delve into the principles of DEI, discuss common challenges faced by city engineers, and provide practical solutions to integrate DEI practices into your projects and teams. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, share experiences, and gain valuable insights into creating equitable and inclusive workplaces.
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11. Looking Ahead to the 2025 Legislative Session
Anne Finn, Intergovernmental Relations Director, League of Minnesota Cities
Session summary: Join Anne Finn from the League of MN Cities and Marc Culver, CEAM Legislative Chair, as we look ahead to the 2025 Legislative Session and the Legislative Priorities that are important to our industry.
12. What is Up With Minnesota Speed Limits - Minnesota's Speed Limits Vision in Motion
Mark Vizecky, State Aid Operations Engineer, MnDOT State Aid Division; Jack Sullivan, Engineering Project Manager, City of St. Louis Park
Session summary: Helen Keller, state that "The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision." A Unified Vision for Speed Limits was developed in December 2022 through a collaborative partnership with local agencies, stakeholders, advocates, MnDOT and State Aid (Phase 1). In Phase 2, the Vision was paced in motion with a major milestone completed in Spring 2024.
In this session we will hear from State Aid on the latest and greatest research, resources, and tools on the topic of setting speed limits. We will hear from a local agency sharing data and results of speed limit changes in their city. And lastly, get an update on the recent hot topics related to speed limits with the Minnesota legislature.
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13. Describe, Explain, and Predict: Making Sense of the 2024 Election
David Schultz, Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies, Hamline University
Session summary: The first appearance of Professor David Schultz at the CEAM Conference was a session to recap the 2016 election. Eight years later Professor Schultz returns to provide an energetic and objective presentation covering the 2024 election, the past twelve months, the present status, and the future outlook. Where do things stand today? How will the election results play out over the next several years? The takeaway will be what all of this means for local government, with respect to funding and support for infrastructure projects, implications for staff relations with new city councils and the public, and the outlook for city government in general.
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14. YOUR Local Road Research Board
Susan Miller, Vice President - Planning & Performance Management, SRF Consulting Group, Inc.
Session summary: Presentation includes update on topics currently being studied by the Local Road Research Board of interest to City Engineers.
15. Case Studies – Projects that ended in Litigation and What We Can Learn
Jeffrey Coleman, Attorney at Law IA, MN, ND, WI, Coleman and Erickson, LLC
Session summary: One of last year’s highest scoring presenters, attorney Jeff Coleman, returns and will leverage his dual expertise as a professional engineer and attorney, sharing insights and specific examples from his practice to address the myriad legal challenges faced by communities and city engineers, particularly in public infrastructure projects. He will discuss the public officials' responsibility to mitigate community risk while ensuring public health and safety. The presentation will cover a range of critical legal topics, such as personal liability, public immunity, and risk management in construction contracts, among others. Coleman's practice, which focuses on construction law, professional liability defense, and business law, also provides guidance on contract negotiation and claims resolution.
16. Ethics: What were they thinking? Case studies On Engineers Gone Bad.
David Schultz, Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies, Hamline University
Session summary: Professional ethics encompasses many aspects – trust, relationship building, collaboration, problem solving, and decision making. Professor Schultz will be bringing forward engineering case studies, drawing upon a basis of authentic stories, talk through what happened, how it happened and walk through the ethics involved. The content of this session will also count toward the continuing education requirement for ethics in Minnesota PE licensure.
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17. Beyond the Blueprints: Effective Resident Communication for Engineers & Staff
Don Reeder, Public Affairs Coordinator, League of Minnesota Cities; Alida Tieberg, Communications Coordinator, League of Minnesota Cities
Session summary: This session will focus on communication techniques that you can use on a daily basis. It will discuss how active listening and emotional intelligence can be utilized to provide both respectful and timely responses for all situations. These practical techniques will help you reduce misunderstandings, avoid and mitigate conflicts, and provide a better work environment.
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18.Top 10 Effective Leadership Techniques
Ali Timpone, Human Resources Director, City of Plymouth
Session summary: The quality of an organization’s managers and team leaders is the single biggest factor in that organization’s success. Many leaders are promoted based on technical skill but are not provided with tools and development for effective people management. At this session, you’ll learn the top ten best practices great leaders do to inspire and motivate their staff. You’ll hear real world examples and gain practical tips you can implement on your very next day back in the office. Ali Timpone is the HR Director for the City of Plymouth and has over 21 years of public sector human resources experience.
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19. Construction Hot Topics for the 2025 Construction Season
Maria Masten, Concrete Engineer, MnDOT; John Garrity, State Aid Construction Specialist (Districts 1, 2, 3, 4), MnDOT
Session summary: Want to learn more about the hot topics for the upcoming 2025 construction season regarding all things bituminous, concrete and federal aid? If so, then join this session to hear from the MnDOT experts from the bituminous, concrete and state iad/federal aid construction support offices. Presenters will discuss current hot topics regarding the latest bituminous and concrete specifications as well as the most common errors and field inspection questions they get. State Aid construction support will also present the most recent federal aid audit findings to better prepare staff for your next federal aid job.
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20. Communications Plan 101
Ryan Earp, Director of Public Engagement, WSB, LLC; Trevor Hamdorf, Deputy Director of Public Safety, New Brighton Department of Public Safety; Justin Femrite, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer, City of Elk River
Session summary: In today’s fast-paced environment, cities must be prepared to communicate clearly and effectively on critical issues such as city-led initiatives, natural disasters, and state or federal government mandates. This session will provide city leaders with a comprehensive roadmap for developing a successful communications plan tailored to these specific topics. Participants will learn how to craft a compelling story that resonates with their communities, identify and segment target audiences for more impactful outreach, and create clear, concise messaging that addresses both the technical aspects and emotional concerns of their residents. The session will also emphasize the importance of timing and execution, with actionable strategies for leveraging digital, print, and in-person communication channels to maximize engagement. Whether you are facing an emergency like a natural disaster or need to navigate the complexities of compliance with new regulations, this session will provide you with the tools to build trust and transparency, minimize public confusion, and ensure your communications are well-received. Join us to enhance your city’s ability to convey critical information when it matters most.
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21.Quick Tips for Preparing for the Media
Marty Doll, Senior Communications Strategist, AE2S; Jason Egerstrom, Senior Community Relations Coordinator, City of Woodbury; Ashley Klemer, Strategic Communications Coordinator, City of Bloomington
Session summary: Do you cringe when you pick up the phone and hear a reporter’s voice on the other end? If so, worry no more. A panel of media experts will share useful tips and real-life experiences during a fast-paced session focusing on preparing for media interviews. After this session, you will feel confident in leveraging the news media to share facts and impacts about your projects.
22. Climate Resilience: Strengthening Our Communities for a Changing Future
Erin Anderson Wenz, Vice President, Senior Water Resources Engineer, Barr Engineering Company; Linnea Savereide, Senior Engineer, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; Laura Jensen, Energy & Sustainability Manager, Destination Medical Center
Session summary: Climate change and resiliency planning continues to be a topic of growing interest in our communities, with many local governments developing resilience plans and considering ways to improve the resiliency of our infrastructure and programs. On a state level, significant funding is being invested toward helping cities and other local governments become more prepared for a changing climate, including over $100 million dedicated during the 2023 legislative session for climate resiliency and climate action, Minnesota’s most significant investment in climate resilience to date. This session will explore resiliency planning, a process to identify potential community hazards and threats and develop adaptation and mitigation plans to help minimize impacts. We will learn about climate change concepts, planning processes, and an overview of MPCA climate resiliency grant opportunities. We’ll also learn about the City of Rochester’s Sustainability and Resiliency Community Work Plan.
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23. RFPs: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Marc Culver, CEAM Legislative Priorities & City Engineer, City of Brooklyn Park; Paul Merchlewicz, City Engineer, Inver Grove Heights; Jessie Dehn, City Engineer/Public Works Director, City of Brainerd; Chris LaBounty, Public Works/Engineer Director, City of Maple Grove
Session summary: A good Request for Proposal (RFP) is essential for City Engineers and their staff who want to hire a qualified consultant for their project. It should clearly define the scope and expectations of the work, as well as the criteria for evaluation and selection. However, consultants often face difficulties in responding to RFPs that lack crucial information, have unrealistic deadlines, or are too ambiguous. This session brings together a panel of experienced RFP issuers, moderated by consultants, to share some best practices and tips on how to write effective and clear RFPs.
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24. Your Roadmap to BMPs for Linear Projects: Planning, Design, Construction, Maintenance, and Reporting
Roberta Cronquist, PE, Bolton & Menk; Emily Jennings, Sr. Water Resources Engineer, SEH
Session summary: Meeting stormwater regulations can be difficult, particularly on linear projects with limited right of way, access and utility limitations, and future maintenance considerations. This session will provide guidance on BMPs for linear projects and how to incorporate proactive approaches to planning, designing, and implementing stormwater management on linear projects.
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25.Turning Tension into Triumph – Strategies for Managing Conflict and Difficult Meetings
Dave Bartholomay, Mayor, City of Circle Pines
Session summary: In the dynamic of city council and community meetings, conflicts and challenging discussions are inevitable. This session offers practical tools and strategies to effectively navigate these complex interactions. Participants will explore techniques for de-escalating tension, fostering productive dialogue, and reaching consensus in the face of disagreement. Through real-world examples and a career full of learned lessons, Dave will guide attendees through a series of best practices to achieve positive results.
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26. Communications for Mitigating and De-escalating Tense Projects/People
Scott Marks, Sergeant, City of Minnetonka
Session summary: This session will cover skills to manage tense situations effectively and professionally. The training focuses on active communication techniques that can be used to diffuse potential conflicts between the inspectors, contractors, and the public. It will discuss how to recognize early signs of frustration, anger, or misunderstanding. It will also provide practical strategies for calming individuals, addressing concerns, and resolving disputes without confrontation. By mastering these techniques, you will be able to maintain safety, foster positive relationships, and ensure smooth project progress while mitigating stress on the construction site and office.
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27. Elevate Your Pavement Game: Pavement Management Strategies for Cities of All Sizes
George Bender, Assistant City Engineer, City of Chanhassen; Justin Black Sr., Project Manager, SEH; Tim Plath, Deputy Director of Public Works, City of Eagan
Session summary: Panel discussion on Pavement Management Techniques and Best Practices that caters to cities of all sizes and levels of program sophistication. This session will bring together experts from a diverse range of municipalities, offering a comprehensive look at how different cities effectively manage their pavement assets. Hear firsthand from cities that employ cutting-edge asset management software that integrates data analytics and predictive modeling to optimize pavement maintenance and budgeting, enhancing decision-making and extending the lifecycle of pavement infrastructure. In contrast, discover the strategies of cities that rely on more straightforward methods, such as simplified pavement rating systems and spreadsheets which will help cities with limited resources manage and prioritize pavement projects. Whether you're from a larger, bustling city or a smaller community, this panel discussion offers valuable takeaways for everyone. Gain a deeper understanding of how varying levels of technology and resources impact pavement management, and explore actionable strategies that can be tailored to your city's unique needs. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your pavement management knowledge and hear from professionals facing similar challenges.
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28. PROWAG and ADA Updates
Todd Grugel, ADA Program Engineer, MnDOT; Kristie Billiar, ADA Policy Program Manager, MnDOT; Mara Peterson, Accessibility Specialist, JQP Inc.; David Fenley, ADA Director, Minnesota Council on Disability
Session summary: This session will provide an update on the Public Right of Way Accessibility Guidelines that were updated in 2023 and will help differentiate between other accessibility standards. We will review the rules, laws and standards and provide examples of how they are implemented. The compliance, complaint and grievance process will be outlined. The goal of the session is to not just know the minimums to meet, but have a better understanding of good accessible design.
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29. Sanitary Sewer Lateral Lining - Lessons Learned
John Herdegen, Newport City Engineer / Team Leader, MSA Professional Services; Matt Yokiel, Superintendent of Public Works, City of Newport; Nick Zillman, Project Manager, Musson Brothers, Inc.; Dave Wisniewski, Musson Brothers, Inc.
Session summary: The City of Newport is a small community situated along the Mississippi River in south Washington County. The majority of the City’s sanitary sewer collection system was constructed in the mid-1960’s using vitrified clay pipe (VCP) sewer mains and cast-iron lateral services. The utilities were constructed within bedrock trenches that act as a French drain during periods of heavy rain, seasonal high-ground water and flooding. Due to poor construction practices at the time of installation, the collection system is inundated with excessive amounts of ground water from the surrounding rock trench. The peak discharge following a spring storm in 2014 was over ten times the average daily flow from the City. As part of the City’s I-I Mitigation program, Newport commissioned a project to install approximately 150 lateral pipe liners for a targeted area of the collection system most susceptible to groundwater infiltration. The City let a contract with Musson Brother’s Inc to install the lateral liners and to perform other I-I mitigation efforts in the summer of 2023. Our presentation will focus on the evaluation of the collection system for compatibility for lateral lining; lateral liner installation basics and options; unexpected pipe configurations and challenges during construction; before and after videos; overall success of the project and other lessons learned.
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30. GIS and Asset Management Applications for Municipal Engineers and Technicians
Heather Hegi, GIS Specialist, City of Golden Valley; Nick Lott-Havey, GIS Specialist 3, Metro Transit Asset Management Department
Session summary: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are powerful tools for collecting, managing, analyzing, and visualizing spatial data. GIS can help with tasks such as asset management, project selection, and project management. In this session, you will learn about the basics of GIS, the types of data and tools available, and the best practices for applying GIS to engineering projects and asset management. You will also see some examples of how GIS can be used to solve real-world problems in different engineering settings.
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31. Speaking with Impact: The Power of Effective Public Speaking
Tod Sherman, Planning Director, MnDOT; Michael Corbett, North Area Engineer, MnDOT
Session summary: In today’s fast paced and polarized world, effective communication is key – especially in technical fields. This will be an engaging session that combines the essentials of technical and public speaking. We’ll learn how to best approach complex topics and convey them in clear, impactful messages, helping you to connect with both technical and non-technical audiences. Through practical, real-world examples, you will learn how to structure your talks, use visuals effectively, and engage your listeners. Whether you’re presenting at a conference, leading a team meeting, or sharing ideas with stakeholders, this session will equip you with the skills to communicate with confidence and clarity.
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32. MnDOT Commissioner of Transportation Update
Nancy Daubenberger, Commissioner, MnDOT
Session summary: The MnDOT Commissioner will provide an update on MnDOT activities as well as state-wide priorities and initiatives.
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33. Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): What City Engineers Need to Know
Brian Rivers, Compliance Engineer, MN Department of Health; Ryan Stempski, Senior Project Manager, WSB
Session summary: Known as the “forever chemicals” Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals that have the strongest carbon-fluorine bonds in organic chemistry. In other words, they don’t break down naturally. This session will provide a speaker from the Minnesota Department of Health to explain how the department is responding to regulation updates and reports, as well as provide an update on how they are working through guidance on health-based values for human consumption. There will be additional discussion on funding elements that may be available to agencies in the future. Ryan Stempski will also be available to discuss a specific case study and how it impacted the local community of Hastings.
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34. AI: What It Is and How Will It Impact Our Industry?
Chelsea McCullough, Founder, Digi.City; Stephen Mensah, Senior Associate, Stantec Consulting Services Inc.
Session summary: Artificial Intelligence (AI), also called machine intelligence, is readily available and impacting our lives and industry. This session will provide an overview of how AI actually works in our industry. Following the overview, a specific example of using AI to drive decision support on a SMART Corridor will be presented.
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